HALL CARETAKER AND OPERATOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1048, 25 May 1912, Page 2

HALL CARETAKER AND OPERATOR.

SALARY INCREASED,

At the special meeting of the Borough Council held last night, the Mayor said that the Hall caretaker and operator had approached him and mentioned that he had been offered a position as operator at Dannevirke. He said he had wired to Dannevirke anck asked for particulars and received a reply offering him 10s per week, with a probable bonus. He had afterwards communicated with Dannevirke by telephone with the result that the position was offered to him at £4 per week with probable advancement, for a twelve months’ engagement. The Mayor said that McArtuey had approached him and asked what probability there was of the Council giving him an equal salary. He had told the Mayor that he was perfectly satisfied with his job and would be quite prepared to remain in the employ of the Council if they would give him £3> 10s a week, with a twelve months’ engagement. For that salary he would undertake all duties in connection with the Hall. The Mayor said that for seven months McArtney was getting /,4 per week and for the balance of the year would receive a little over £2 per week. This would work out at a little over £i per week for the whole year. All would agree that this salary was really a small one for the work to be done, and he didn’t think there was an operator in the Dominion at the present time getting under £4 10s per week. The first point that the Council would need to consider was whether they wished to retain Mr McArtney’s services. Had he given every satisfaction ?

Cr Richmond said it seemed to him that Mr McArtney was not satisfied and never would be satisfied even it he were given £5 per week. He told the speaker during the morning that; he wouldn’t take less than was offered him at Dannevirke.

The Mayor said that Mr McArtuey had told him he was prepared to accept £3 lUs per week.

A letter was read from Cr Adams regretting his inability to be presept aud signifying his approval of the increase asked for by Mr McArtney. The Mayor said that if Mr McArtuey left he didn’t think the Council would be able to get a competent man for less than £3 IDs per week. If he were receiving under that amount he would be underpaid. If it were his own business he would have no hesitation iu paying the salary asked for. Mr McArtney wanted a guarantee for twelve months aud be thought the Council should also get au undertaking from Mr McArtney that he would remain for twelve months. He considered it would be a wise step on the part of the Council to engage Mr McArtney for twelve months at iOs per week. Cr Stewart said he had always heard Mr McArtney well spoken of, and believed he was a very competent man. Cr Richmond ; “ He’s got a very swelled head 1 ’ ’ The Mayor said no one would deny that the operator had made the picture show a success. Cr Gibbs said so long as the pictures continued to be run by the manager iu the same manner as they were at present they would continue to be a success irrespective of whether Mr McArtney or anyone else was doing the operating. Cr Greig said that as an employer he would not ask a man, and expect him to have the same qualifications as expected of Mr McArtney, to work for him for a less salary than that asked for by Mr McArtney. The work was worth the money and the Council would be underpaying an employee if it did not give it to him. He moved that the salary of the Hall caretaker aud picture operator, H. McArtney, be increased to £3 10s per week and free house ; that the Council will give him a twelve mouths engagement, provided he undertakes to keep the position for twelve mouths at the above-mentioned salary ; the previous schedule of duties, etc,, to apply. The motion was seconded by Cr Stewart and carried.